I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 32

"I trust you'll visit again, Yuma-chan?" Yoshino asked as she, Shikaku, and Shikamaru spoke to Yuma on their porch the next morning.

"Hai!" Chirped Yuma. "Definitely! Thank you both for allowing me to stay the night!"

"Of course," smiled Shukaku.

"Don't forget to talk to Kakashi when you get back," Shikamaru said gently. "And don't be afraid."

Before anyone could react, Yuma had stepped forward, hugging Shikamaru around his waist with all her might as her head placed itself just under his chin. Shocked, it took Shikamaru a moment to awkwardly return the hold while Yoshino's face broke into a wide smile and Shikaku was barely able to cover a smirk.

"Thank you, Shika-kun," Yuma whispered before letting go and hopping back, a wide smile on her face as she saluted them. "See ya later, Yoshi-San, Shi-San, Shika-kun!" They waved after the grey haired girl as she skipped off hyperly.

"Shi-San?" Shikaku questioned amusedly, scratching his chin.

"Well you can't be Shika-San," giggled Yoshino. She smiled down at her son. "I like your girlfriend, Shika-kun," she teased, pinching the boy's reddening cheeks.

"What a drag..." Shikamaru grumbled, crossing his arms and looking away. "She's not my girlfriend..."

Shikaku chuckled and set a hand on his son's shoulder. "Yet."

"Who's side are you on?!"

Meanwhile, Yuma was running as quickly as possible towards Kakashi's home.

Her home.

She made it in what seemed like mere moments in her rush, yet found herself frozen on the porch, her hand clasping the doorknob.

Inside, she could barely hear a commotion of sorts, and leaned in closer to press her ear against the rough wood of the door.

"Calm down Kakashi, we'll find her."

"I can't calm down, Asuma! She could be lost, and hungry! What if someone kidnapped her?!"

"You're overreacting. She can take care of herself, you just have to have faith."

"But... I had her promise me she wouldn't fight with the villagers... She could be getting tortured, and it'd be all my fault!"

"Kakashi... Don't worry-"

Yuma had the handle turned when she heard the next line.

"She's my cousin, Asuma! How the hell can I not worry when she's missing?!"

She leapt back as though she'd been electrocuted by the brass doorknob, and it spun back into place with a loud 'click' in the silence that followed.

The door flew open and Kakashi, seeing Yuma's pale, shocked face, knew he blew it. She had to have heard him! Why else would she look like that?!

Yuma, unsure of what to do with all the emotions spinning around in her head, found herself bolting off the porch and away from the house.

"Yuma!" Kakashi called after her, running a meter or two behind as Asuma ran after them. "Wait, please!"

But Yuma was scared, and in her irrational fear,she didn't want him to catch up. She was gone in a flash, leaving Kakashi to slow, then fall to his knees in the dirt, burying his face in his palms.

"What have I done?" He groaned miserably.